Blog with photos of food recipes of North and South Indian cooking,Andhra Pradesh cuisine,Ayurvedic diet health tips,nutrition of spices and herbs,natural herbal home remedies from a foodie's kitchen in India.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Nuvullu Annam (Sesame Flavored Rice)

Sesame flavored rice or Nuvullu Annam is a light flavoured rice delicacy, enriched with nutrients from seasame seeds and Indian spices.This dish is simple unlike a pampered biryani..:)in the fact that the main ingredient is only sesame seeds with the infusion of spices like curry leaves and mustard seeds in the tempering. Sesame seeds have no aroma but the flavor intensifies by lightly dry roasting the seeds giving it a sweet and nutty taste.

Dry roast the red chillis and coriander seeds in a pan for 4-5 minutes on medium heat tossing them about till the flavours come out and make a fine powder.Keep aside.Heat ghee in a pan and add the mustard seeds and let them splutter.Add Bengal gram and let it turn brown.Add the curry leaves and green chillis and fry for a few seconds till the leaves turn a little crisp and the flavours blend in the oil.The curry leaves along with seasame give an aromatic flavor to this dish and that is why the recipe calls for a wee bit more leaves than usual..:)Add the red chilli pwd,coriander pwd,seasame powder and salt and combine.Add the cooked rice and combine it such that the spices coat the rice well.Serve hot with any gravy curry or plain rasam and appadam(papad).

Note:You can use red chilli pwd and coriander pwd instead of whole chillis and coriander seeds.But the best flavour is derived from dry roasting the whole spices and grinding them fresh.There is no substitute to that.Another piece of advice… If you don’t have fresh curry leaves on hand,I suggest you prepare this rice only when you have fresh leaves as the dry ones don’t give out that unique aroma and flavour which only the fresh ones impart.Remember its always the freshest ingredients that bring out the best of Indian cooking.

Since I have blogged about one of the important ingredients used in South Indian cooking,let me elaborate on the nutritional value of sesame seeds.These seeds are high in iron content (equivalent to liver ,if not more),rich in manganese, copper and calcium and also contain Vitamin B1 (thiamine) and Vitamin E (tocopherol).They also contain powerful antioxidants called lignans, which are also anti-carcinogenic.Ancient Ayurvedic nutrition recommends foods prepared with til or seasame seeds for Vata imbalance (feeling low,depressed,anxiety and restlessness)persons. Seasame seeds which have warming properties are one of the powerful vata balancing herbs other than cinnamon, cumin and ginger.Read more about the health benefits of sesame seeds.

Southern Indian cuisine uses sesame oil or gingilly /gingelly oil for cooking purposes and flavoring a couple of vegetable curries and stews.Its very common in many homes to find, Idlis (steamed rice cakes) being doused with gingilly oil and served with a spicy podi mixed in gingilly oil instead of ghee. Infact the famous mango pickle of Andhra "aavakai" is prepared with gingilly oil.Tamarind Rice or Pulihora taste is further enhanced by adding sesame seeds powder or nuvvulu podi.Among the wide variety of rice dishes of South India , Nuvullu Annam is one of my favorites and the addictive flavor of sesame in the sesame rice is sure to touch and delight your taste bud.

Like Santhi mentioned, it's been a while since I prepared this rice. Few weeks ago some other Indian blogger blogged about it, I forgot where I saw this recipe before, from then on I'm dreaming of making this recipe. Now looking at yours, I can't stop my salivating tastebuds. :) One question, I'm curious to know what other things accompany this rice? Do you take it like 'chitrannam' or with sidedish like some curries or yogurt?Thanks Sailu!

Sailu: I heard my friend talking about this recipe,and since then it keeps me hooked, though i never had chance of getting the recipe from her. I am going too try this. Thanks for sharing this recipe:)BTW: I have recipe for Sesame thovayal (thick chutney made from white sesame seeds and really yummy side dish), i will post it sometime.

Namaste! Sailu , Thanks for visitng my blog .congrats for your blog.Sorry for belated comment.I was busy with my work.please do visit again.Let me add more from my general knowledge,Sesame oil is right ingredient in weight control issues.I mean no obesity problems .I hope you follow my point. Bye and good wishes.

Hi there, Talking about sesame seeds and sesame oils.......a few years ago I did a research for a food magazine in Singapore and would like to share what I found out. You know how it is about the Indians having to drink sesame oil after their get their first menses. They usually do that for 1 month right and if they are non vegetarians they have to eat a raw egg too. After one month they will have the ceremony to announce to the world that the "daughter is now a big lady". The research showed that the girls who drank sesame oil for 1 month grew up to be girls with very pretty shiny skin as well as turn out to be very shapily........bustier and a bigger hip. This is due to the plant estrogen the sesame seeds and oil have. So girls if you want clear beautiful sking, use sesame oil on your body and eat lots of sesame seeds.Hey, I am from Singapore and just started a food blog. Please visitspice-queen@blogspot.com

Kia Ora (Hello) from that blogger down under in New Zealand. Hey - what a really great foodie blog !!! You are most welcome to join my food blog, if you want. I will also list you blog, if you don't mind.

Hi Devagi,its so nice to have an renowned chef comment here.Thanks so much for your valuable inputs on sesame seeds and sesame oil.Sesame Oil is the very best natural conditioner for the skin(softens and rejuvenates) and it neutralizes oxygen radicals which are thought to be one of the major causes of aging.Its an anti-aging oil with many therapeutic qualities and through the centuries,sesame seeds have been used for cooking and beauty / body care in India.

Thanks rums!Yes,sesame has warming properties and is recommended for 'vata' imbalanced individuals.And its not harmful when taken in moderation(any kind of food infact).

Do try it sometime,Pushpa.You will love the taste of sesame flavored rice.

Sailu its me again, i made this rice yday and just loved it. It was so easy and very tasty . And adding lots of curry leaves enhaces the taste.Its so different from the usual variety rice. Thanx for sharing such a wonderful recipe. Wanted to take a picture and post it in my blog, but it quickly dissappeared :(